Page 87 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

Now that I’m faced with this sudden indifference, I realize with a start that I actually quite enjoyed our banter and bickering and even our fights. It has been a breath of fresh air. A moment of freedom for me. A rare opportunity to just be myself without having to worry about pleasing anyone. Rilinghim up has been surprisingly fun. So in spite of his infuriating interference during these trials, I’ve begun to look forward to our interactions.

But I suppose that’s over now. If I win today, I will be officially recognized as a winner of the Atonement Trials by the Iceheart Dynasty, and there is nothing Draven can do to take that away from me. And if I lose, I will be stuck here for another one hundred and fifty years, just like he wants, and there is nothing I can do about it. So regardless of the outcome, we are now officially done with each other.

“Somewhere inside this forest is a stone altar,” Imar announces, yanking me out of my thoughts. “And on that stone altar are three rings. Your mission is to find and retrieve one of the rings.” His blue eyes gleam in the sunlight as he flashes us a foreboding smile. “And to make it out again alive.”

Dread washes over me as I cast another glance towards the forest. We’re supposed to find a ring? Insidethatgigantic mess of trees and vines and thorns? My heart starts pounding faster in my chest. How the hell am I supposed to win this trial? I know nothing about how to navigate in the woods. And my magic is useless for this kind of thing too. There’s no way that I will be able to find the rings on my own.

“The three people who first kneel before your emperor and empress and present one of the rings will be crowned the winners of this century’s Atonement Trials,” Imar continues. “You can only presentonering. Other than that, there are no rules.”

“This is going to take days,” Trevor blurts out from a little farther down to my left.

We all start in surprise and cast stunned glances at him, shocked that he even dared to speak up. The Icehearts narrow their eyes at him, as if they’re displeased with his suddenoutburst. Draven only continues staring straight in front of him, his face devoid of everything except that usual menacing air.

“Most likely, yes,” Imar replies.

“But how are we supposed to survive in the forest?” Trevor continues, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Without water or food or equipment.”

Imar lifts his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “That is up to you to figure out.”

I suppress a sigh as I gaze out at the unwelcoming forest before me. Great. Just great.

“Do whatever is necessary to obtain one of the rings.” Imar gives us a knowing look laced with both mockery and threats. “Because only three of you will be granted the privilege of leaving this city. And there will be one hundred and fifty years until the next Atonement Trials.”

Tension crackles like bolts of lightning through the air as we all exchange dark glances. Eyebrows are drawn down, jaws are clenched, and eyes are filled with determination. We all have different reasons for wanting to win. But we all want itdesperately.

As I scan the faces of my fellow contestants, I know without a doubt that there will be no alliances now. No holding back. No mercy. We are all in this to win.

I drag in a deep breath as I shift my gaze back to Imar.

He flashes us a wicked smile. “Begin.”

I sprint towards the tree line.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

My heart slams against my ribs and air cuts through my throat as I sprint right into the forest. All around me, the other nine contestants do the same. Dry twigs crunch underneath my boots as I run. But with every step, an overwhelming sense of panic and desperation clangs louder inside me.

I have no fucking clue what I’m doing.

I don’t know where I’m going or how to even begin to locate the stone altar with the three rings. I don’t even know why I’m running.

Trees and twisting branches flash past as I hurtle blindly into the woods. The other contestants quickly disappear from view as we all spread out. Out here, this close to the city, there is more space between the trees. But I know that the tangle of trees will only get thicker the farther in we get. How am I supposed to find anything in here?

Think.

Blades of grass rip from the ground as I suddenly dig my heels in and skid to a halt. Throwing out my hand, I catch myself on a brown tree trunk as I come to a complete stop. My heart pounds in my chest. I draw in a deep breath.

Think. Goddess damn it, I need to think.

I haven’t won a single trial by sheer force of power. I have gotten through them all because I’ve played it smart. I need to do the same thing now.

I panicked when Imar just abruptly called the start like that, and I started running because that felt like the right thing to do. It’s a race against the clock after all. Ten contestants and only three rings. But just dashing blindly through the forest is not a strategy. It’s a dumb reaction caused by stress.

My chest heaves, and my brain is still flickering with that lingering sense of alarm and panic and stress that flooded my entire system when Imar called the start. Pressing my palm against the rough bark of the tree, I close my eyes and just focus on breathing in and out.

I need to use my head. That’s how I’m going to win. Not by outrunning everyone else in a mad dash through the woods. By outsmarting them.

Once my heart has stopped slamming against my ribs and my brain has stopped spinning, I open my eyes again and take stock of my situation.

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